ABBA Reunite After 40 Years, And They’ve Created CGI Versions Of Themselves In Their Prime To Perform In A Concert
There’s news and there’s news. Today we’re focusing on the latter. If you’ve read the headline, you probably went “Mamma mia, here they go again!” And if you still don’t know what this post is about, the last sentence was a strong suggestion. But let’s spell it out. ABBA. Is. Back!
You’ve heard this correctly. And they’re not just reuniting to do a press tour or a little concert of some old songs. The fantastic four from Sweden are announcing a new album called “Voyage,” along with a concert that will fuse the old and the new, and not just in terms of songs, but also in terms of presentation. They’ve posed as actors of themselves while digital artists created CGI versions of ABBA in their prime that will perform in the concert. Oh, and they’re building a giant arena, but more on that later.
More info: Instagram | abbavoyage.com
After 40 years, the 4 legendary members of ABBA have decided to reunite
Image credits: abbavoyage
Those more cynical speculate that money motivated this, but ABBA is known to have turned down a 1bn $USD tour deal in the 2000s, so it’s reasonable to assume that it’s not the main reason why. Others say that it’s natural for any band to want to summarize their careers and put a final dot to it. And some just don’t care, as they’re over their heads from the fact that ABBA is actually back.
The unlikely comeback announcement was followed by even more unlikely CGI versions of the ABBA singers, cleverly named “Abba-tars”
Image credits: abbavoyage
Agathe, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid put on the costumes and hit the stage. Over 850 digital artists worked on their look while 160 cameras recorded their moves. How did it turn out? Nobody really knows. But we’ll have the chance to see it in 2022, London, where they’re building an arena just for the occasion.
850 artists worked on recreating the singers in their prime. The legends recorded the digital concert in front of 160 cameras
Image credits: abbavoyage
The ABBA-tars are rendered to look like the members back in their heyday, namely the ’70s. We’ll find out how it looks in motion, but so far, the stills look amazing.
Fun fact: the band name ABBA consists of the initials of the four original band members: Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid.
Ulvaeus
Image credits: abbavoyage
Björn Ulvaeus is a singer-songwriter and producer. He co-composed the musical Mamma Mia! and co-produced the film of the same title.
Agnetha Fältskog
Image credits: abbavoyage
Besides being a singer-songwriter, like all of the ABBA members, she’s also an actor. She has remained active in creative music and published a few albums of her own.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Image credits: abbavoyage
Frida (as some call her), unlike the other band members, is part Norwegian. She’s also an active environmentalist and an actual princess and a Countess of Plauen.
Benny Andersson
Image credits: abbavoyage
Benny Andersson co-composed and co-produced Mamma Mia! with Björn. He has a band called Benny Anderssons Orkester.
The attention-loving Benny and Bjorn broke the news about their epic return at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Image credits: abbavoyage
The news is BIG: a brand new album, a concert, and a completely new arena
Image credits: abbavoyage
The location for the press announcement is no accident. The arena is going to be built at the same park in London where the press announcement happened.
And thus, ABBA began announcing their virtual reunion concert to the whole world
Image credits: abbavoyage
Futuristic billboards sprung up all over London
Image credits: abbavoyage
“London is the best city to be in when it comes to entertainment, theatre, musicals… We have always felt that the Brits see us as their own,” Benny said.
Image credits: abbavoyage
The band is building a massive arena venue in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park just for the Voyage concert. Their virtual versions will perform alongside a live orchestra
Image credits: abbavoyage
The tickets are going public tomorrow, and the first concert is scheduled for May 27th, 2022.
As one commentator wittily put it: “ABBA building their own arena and not even having to show up to it is the ultimate flex.”
And like all great comebacks, the tour will feature their new album “Voyage,” as well as their greatest hits
Image credits: abbavoyage
The new 10-track album is going to be released on November 5th, 2021, just before the Christmas shopping season starts. If you know an ABBA fan, you know what to buy for them this year!
They’ve already released two songs from the 10-track album. ‘I Still Have Faith in You’ reflects the band’s journey to the present
The nostalgic-sounding ‘Don’t Shut Me Down’ hits all of the chords that millions of fans fell in love with them for in the first place
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I would very much like to see them reunited in a live concert, but... CGIs faking them as youths, in a venue where they don't even need to show up? That seems like a ludicrous and rather cynical idea. C'mon people, show your true selves up instead of hiding behind fake images 🤥
I guess Madonna’s cosmetic surgeon’s bill just became a thing of the past.
This is SO COOL! I love that they can be young again and sing as a group, put on concerts etc. Who cares that they are CGI? At least we get them again. I LOVE IT! At least they are singing together and making music again. THAT is the point.
Cool, they released some new music. But CGI concert? No thanks, I would like to see artist for real.
Gross. Not to mention sucky music that's as bad as any current pop 40 crap
Well.... my Mom was a huge ABBA fan. Just loved their music. Whenever I want to feel her warm fuzzies surrounding me I put on my ABBA's Greatest Hits in the car while I'm driving. But, I think wherever she is this is her reaction to those 2 songs, of which both I could only listen to for about 30 seconds and that was pushing it. "🥳 😳 😖😖😖 🤢" Should have left well enough alone folks. The hoped for reunion should have happened years ago. This is not exactly going out on a high note (pardon the pun).
I was an ABBA fan. Some songs are still good but do we really want this? 1: I've heard one of their new songs, it still has an ABBA sound but I thought it was sh!t. Time moves on, so should music. 2: they couldn't be bothered to do a real concert? OH, well I couldn't be bothered to buy your music then, Jeees. And 3: They have become much younger in CGI which is sending the wrong message to young people. End of rant, CaroCaro signing off.
I would very much like to see them reunited in a live concert, but... CGIs faking them as youths, in a venue where they don't even need to show up? That seems like a ludicrous and rather cynical idea. C'mon people, show your true selves up instead of hiding behind fake images 🤥
I guess Madonna’s cosmetic surgeon’s bill just became a thing of the past.
This is SO COOL! I love that they can be young again and sing as a group, put on concerts etc. Who cares that they are CGI? At least we get them again. I LOVE IT! At least they are singing together and making music again. THAT is the point.
Cool, they released some new music. But CGI concert? No thanks, I would like to see artist for real.
Gross. Not to mention sucky music that's as bad as any current pop 40 crap
Well.... my Mom was a huge ABBA fan. Just loved their music. Whenever I want to feel her warm fuzzies surrounding me I put on my ABBA's Greatest Hits in the car while I'm driving. But, I think wherever she is this is her reaction to those 2 songs, of which both I could only listen to for about 30 seconds and that was pushing it. "🥳 😳 😖😖😖 🤢" Should have left well enough alone folks. The hoped for reunion should have happened years ago. This is not exactly going out on a high note (pardon the pun).
I was an ABBA fan. Some songs are still good but do we really want this? 1: I've heard one of their new songs, it still has an ABBA sound but I thought it was sh!t. Time moves on, so should music. 2: they couldn't be bothered to do a real concert? OH, well I couldn't be bothered to buy your music then, Jeees. And 3: They have become much younger in CGI which is sending the wrong message to young people. End of rant, CaroCaro signing off.
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